More Top Picks Best Ear Thermometers
player ready...Still walking a fine line between spoilers and playoff contenders, Buffalo Grove took a firm step in the playoff direction Thursday with its 16-14 victory over No. 17 Fremd (6-1, 2-1) in Buffalo Grove.
The Bison blocked two field goals, including one by Jason Donis with 11 minutes left that would have given Fremd a 10-7 lead but instead set up a Buffalo Grove touchdown. Then, with 3:48 to play, Mike Sula, who blocked the other field goal, kicked a 41-yarder for the eventual game-winner–with the help of holder Brad Wendell, who dug out a low snap.
“I just concentrated on the ball, hoping that my size would carry momentum into the kick,” said the 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound Sula.
Wendell scored the first Bison TD on a 9-yard pass from Rich Seibeck. Seibeck (8 for 15, 70 yards) found Joe Parenti from 34 yards out after Donis’ blocked kick for Buffalo Grove’s other TD.
The Bison are still living on the playoff edge. After starting the year 2-3, they have beaten two previously unbeaten teams but still need to win their remaining two games to make the playoffs.
“I heard somebody say we were spoilers,” Buffalo Grove coach Rich Roberts said. “But I say we’re still alive.”
Evanston 40, Niles West 7: No. 4 Evanston (7-0, 3-0) scored 22 second-quarter points and rolled in the Central Suburban South. Siaka Massaquoi had 106 yards rushing on six carries and two touchdowns and Dwayne Stone also added a TD touchdown reception and returned a kick 86 yards for another score.
Stevenson 49, Mundelein 15: The sixth-ranked Patriots improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the North Suburban with their victory over Mundelein (2-5, 1-4).
Woodstock 36, Crystal Lake Central 28: Craig Kastning’s 1-yard run with 1:56 to go gave No. 16 Woodstock (7-0, 7-0) the Fox Valley victory over Crystal Lake Central (4-3, 4-3). Kastning, who rushed 18 times for 152 yards, also scored on a 20-yard run.
Carver 44, Corliss 6: Rodney Donnelly rushed for 131 yards and three TDs and Jeremiah Stennis and J.R. Waddy each recorded 15 tackles for Carver (5-2, 3-1) in the Public Southeast. Corliss is 1-6, 1-3.
Collins 46, Clemente 22: Raheem Lamb (16 carries, 293 yards) had touchdown runs of 4, 26, 30 and 70 yards as the Cobras (5-2) prevailed in the Public Illini Northwest. Clemente fell to 3-4, 1-3.
Conant 35, Prospect 3: Yarmel Rush, who ran for 185 yards on 19 carries, went 69 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to pace Conant (5-2, 3-0) in the Mid-Suburban South. Prospect is 2-5, 1-2.
Crystal Lake South 42, Dundee-Crown 30: Ryan Baren scored on runs of 10 and 84 yards to lead South (2-5, 2-5) in the Fox Valley. Dundee-Crown in 3-4, 3-4.
Elk Grove 34, Schaumburg 31: George Mostardini’s 4-yard run with 2:17 left gave Elk Grove (3-4, 2-1) the Mid-Suburban South victory. Jarvis Dunmore rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns for the Grenadiers.
Hersey 36, Wheeling 12: Wheeling (2-5, 0-3) led 12-0 after the first quarter, but Hersey, sparked by two touchdown receptions and a 25-yard run by Joe Trsar, scored 36 unanswered points to win the Mid-Suburban North contest. Adam Lutostanski threw both TD passes to Trsar.
Hoffman Estates 26, Rolling Meadows 14: Mike Stevens intercepted three passes and returned one 62 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Hawks (1-6, 1-4 Mid-Suburban South). Rolling Meadows (1-6, 1-2) led 14-0 after three quarters but surrendered 26 fourth-quarter points.
Hubbard 22, King 14 (OT): Ben Henderson’s 10-yard run in overtime was the difference for the Greyhounds (7-0, 4-0 Public Illini Southwest), who stopped King (4-3, 1-3) at the 1-yard line on its overtime possession. Mario Spencer added a 61-yard touchdown run for Hubbard.
Lake Park 28, Elgin 0: Lake Park (5-2, 3-2) cruised in the Upstate Eight behind Anthony Moorman, who scored on a 91-yard pass play from Joe DeFrain, and John Reeves, who caught TD passes of 24 and 33 yards from DeFrain. Elgin fell to 3-4, 2-3.
Maine West 36, Niles North 3: Playing for the injured Alex Voltaire, Billy Kopecky rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors (3-4, 1-3) rolled past Niles North (2-5, 1-2) in the Central Suburban North.
New Trier 30, Waukegan 8: Chris Macleod (eight carries, 30 yards) scored on three runs (2, 3 and 6 yards) as New Trier (4-3, 2-1) defeated Waukegan (4-3, 2-1) in the Central Suburban South.
More Top Picks 504 Accommodations For Autism And Sensory Needs
Washington 35, Harlan 6: Jason Gamino had two scoring runs and Kevin McPherson tossed two TD passes as Washington ran its record to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Public Southeast with its victory over Harlan (0-7, 0-4).